Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) ended his political career on Monday, announcing that he would abandon his reelection campaign in light of the fraud scandals involving his state’s nutrition, healthcare, and child care programs. But as bad as Walz’s welfare fraud scandals are, and they are very bad, the more important lesson to learn from his failed administration is about the real damage that can be done to a state’s finances when the Democratic Party achieves full control.

First elected in 2018, Walz has always enjoyed strong support from the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party-controlled state House. But it was not until 2023, after the 2022 elections, that Minnesota’s state Senate fell into DFL control. Unconstrained by any sense of moderation, Walz and his Democratic trifecta enacted radical far-left legislation, including legalized recreational marijuana, unlimited abortion, free healthcare for illegal immigrants, a ban on fossil fuels, and increased education spending.